Wicker Basket Purse with Bird and Plants. 1950s-60s. Maker: Midas of Miami. White-painted wicker oblong box bag with green velveteen front. It features a three-dimensional (tummy stuffed for the effect) painted bird with red rhinestone eye. It is surrounded by felt and glitter-paint marsh-type plants, a few of which are also on the top of the bag. Gold trim on the front, along with the usual gold-braided Midas handles and goldtone hardware. Green satin interior with three pockets, including one that zips.

As regular readers of this blog know, Midas is my all-time favorite purse manufacturer. Here’s another example of a bird-themed Midas of Miami bag. They’re getting harder to collect—not because they’re not easy to find—but because the prices are going up. However, if you find one you like that you’ve never seen before and are afraid you’ll never see again, then my suggestion is to BUY IT. You may end up regretting it if you don’t!

  

Pearlized Lucite Clutch. 1950s. Maker: Unknown. Lovely smaller Lucite bag in swirly, shiny, pearlized white, with interesting freeform closure and six tiny goldtone button feet. It’s an unusual combination of curves and flat surfaces, and it snaps closed via a tiny hole in the closure that meets up with another of those small goldtone buttons fastened to the top of the purse.

I have a nice-sized collection of Lucite bags, but I don’t use them as often as my more practical purses. Part of it has to do with their fragility and smaller size, but they can also get very heavy once you load them down with your essentials. This little beauty is in very nice shape and I think I only paid $5 or $10 for it!